5-6 State Ideation Questions 2018
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Task developed by Giacomo Rotolo-Ross, University of Sydney, 2018 STATE DA VINCI DECATHLON 2018 CELEBRATING THE ACADEMIC GIFTS OF STUDENTS IN YEARS 5 & 6 IDEATION TEAM NUMBER _____________ 1 2 3 4 Total Rank /15 /15 /15 /15 /60 1 Task developed by Giacomo Rotolo-Ross, University of Sydney, 2018 IDEATION BLAST FROM THE PAST BACKGROUND One of the questions most frequently asked by young children to their parents is this: What if dinosaurs were alive today? Some answers will divert attention to the ‘still really big’ animals that inhabit our world today, whether they be on land or in oceans, while other children might simply be met with the much-maligned phrase “don’t be silly”. Rarely will parents actually discuss the ethical and practical consequences with their five-year old child, which is rather disappointing. Indeed, it took a multi-million dollar Hollywood film franchise to provide a somewhat realistic answer to this age-old question. The Jurassic Park series was, for many children and adults alike, a realisation of hours spent happily and wildly dreaming of a world where giant lizards longer than jumbo jets roamed the Earth. In this set of films, based on the book by Michael Crichton, preserved dinosaur blood and therefore DNA is found inside prehistoric gnats and ticks trapped in amber. This DNA is harnessed by a company, called InGen, in order to create a theme park inhabited by dinosaurs, all contained on an island in the North Pacific Ocean. As you might imagine, the plot soon spirals into disaster… Returning to reality, in January of 2017, palaeontologists at North Carolina State University claimed to have recovered ‘protein fragments’ from a fossilised dinosaur rib. This, however, was met with much scepticism, with most other palaeontologists and also biochemists suggesting that fragile organic matter such as this simply could not have survived for such an extended period of time. More recently, in December 2017, the story of Jurassic Park appeared to have manifested itself, with a preserved dinosaur feather found in amber, with a tick clinging onto it. However, studies by Oxford University ruled out the presence of any DNA because the tick was unfortunately so close to the surface of the amber as not to be sufficiently enveloped. 2 Task developed by Giacomo Rotolo-Ross, University of Sydney, 2018 Nevertheless, our planet is vast, and phenomena such as fossilisation, amber preservation and even natural cryopreservation mean that there is the smallest chance that organic dinosaur matter does still exist somewhere in the world. Although it will remain incredibly difficult to find even if it is out there, it is not impossible. THE PROBLEM Imagine this: a group of scientists are undertaking an expedition to Antarctica. During their journey through the icy landscape, they see an avalanche occur on one of the mountains in the near distance. When the snow settles and the air clears, it appears that a cave on the side of the mountain has been revealed. Intrigued, the scientists veer off course towards it. The cave only consists of one passage, boring its way into the centre of the mountain. The temperature inside drops lower than any previously recorded by man. At the end, the scientists are met by a gruesome discovery – the severed head of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, perfectly preserved in the ice. This was to be the most unexpected of discoveries, and one with the potential to change the course of human history. The specimen is taken to the CSIRO labs in Canberra, Australia. A full sequence of Tyrannosaurus DNA is extracted. This, however, is not all. DNA from three other species of dinosaur, an ankylosaurus, brachiosaurus and pachycephalosaurus, are all found through remnants of flesh and blood from the mouth and teeth of the original specimen. Perhaps the Tyrannosaurus’ last couple of meals… Immediately, of course, the debate begins. What should be done with this DNA? THE DESIGN CHALLENGE Your challenge is to answer the question above. What is the best course of action for the CSIRO to take? You should focus on one particular area and present a five-year plan for the use of the DNA that has been discovered. Consider focusing on one particular area – this could be health, education, revenue raising, scientific research, social protection or something entirely different. Ultimately, your solution must be highly beneficial but must also not pose a threat to society. Your answer can include one or more mediums, such as an invention, the use of existing technology, the creation of new infrastructure, a social policy or program and many others (except, of course, for another theme park!). Answers which are both future-thinking and original will score highest. While your solutions must be realistic, they do not have to be immediately or certainly achievable. Considering what might occur in future to address a problem such as this one is critical. You will have ninety (90) minutes to complete the four components below. Stimulus material to assist in your solution is attached at the end of this paper. 3 Task developed by Giacomo Rotolo-Ross, University of Sydney, 2018 Please carefully read the marking criteria on the following pages for additional guidance on what to include in the answer templates provided, and where to do so. The following components provide a structure for your work: EMPATHISE (Ethical Decision-Making Framework) (15 marks) This involves evaluating what ‘ought to be done’, through considering rights, obligations, fairness, the benefits and detriments for societies and other virtues. Reaching a final decision involves a degree of conviction and belief in what is ‘the right thing to do’. DEFINE (Design Brief) (15 marks) Here, you must identify the problem, outline the ethical issues, evaluate the challenges and research findings, and identify possible solutions. IDEATE (Reflection) (15 marks) You must then reflect on their solutions and whether they will be viable. A preferable solution should be identified, and any unanswered questions should be addressed. Issues of implementation are also crucial to reflect upon. CREATE (Prototype) (15 marks) Finally, a design for how your ideas and solution will be disseminated must be produced. This could be a story-board, mind-map, diagram, model, narrative or any other appropriate medium. Critically, an audience must be able to understand the process of dissemination by examining this prototype. 4 Task developed by Giacomo Rotolo-Ross, University of Sydney, 2018 MARKING GUIDELINES 1. Ethical decision-making framework (15 marks) QUESTIONS LIMITED SOUND OUTSTANDING TOTAL 1: At least two facts 0 1 2 2: Identifies challenges 0 1-2 3 3: States why it matters 0 1 2 4: Identifies negative 0 1 2 consequences 5: Identifies positive 0 1 2 consequences 6: Demonstrates empathy 0 1 2 7: Identifies impact on the 0 1 2 wider community TOTAL /15 2. Design Brief (15 marks) ASPECT LIMITED SOUND EFFECTIVE OUTSTANDING TOTAL Ideate: What – why it matters, challenges, 0-1 2-3 4 5 ethical issues & the vision Research: Why - findings that 0-1 2-3 4 5 support ideas & solutions Solutions: How – the question and 0-1 2-3 4 5 possible solutions TOTAL /15 5 Task developed by Giacomo Rotolo-Ross, University of Sydney, 2018 3. Reflection (15 marks) ASPECT LIMITED SOUND EFFECTIVE OUTSTANDING TOTAL Ideation: Ideas 0-1 2-3 4 5 Implementation: When, where & 0-1 2-3 4 5 who? Dissemination: How to get the 0-1 2-3 4 5 ideas adopted TOTAL /15 4. Prototype (15 marks) ASPECT LIMITED SOUND EFFECTIVE OUTSTANDING TOTAL Originality and 0-1 2-3 4 5 creativity Clarity and communication of 0-1 2-3 4 5 ideas, audience appeal Idea is both realistic and 0-1 2-3 4 5 future-thinking TOTAL /15 TOTAL: /60 6 Task developed by Giacomo Rotolo-Ross, University of Sydney, 2018 ADDITIONAL STIMULUS Should we bring extinct species back from the dead? By David Shultz, published in Science, September 26 2016; available at http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/09/should-we-bring-extinct-species-back-dead Earth is in the midst of its sixth mass extinction: Somewhere between 30 and 159 species disappear every day, thanks largely to humans, and more than 300 types of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians have vanished since 1500. These rates do not bode well for the future of life on our planet, but what if extinction wasn’t permanent? What if we could resurrect some of the species we’ve lost? For decades the notion of “de-extinction” hovered on the scientific fringes, but new advances in genetic engineering, especially the CRISPR-Cas9 revolution, have researchers believing that it’s time to start thinking seriously about which animals we might be able to bring back, and which ones would do the most good for the ecosystems they left behind. Indeed, earlier this month, ecologists at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), published guidelines for how to choose which species to revive if we want to do the most good for our planet's ecosystems. The two animals at the forefront of this discussion are the woolly mammoth, a hairy, close relative of the elephant that lived in the Arctic, and the passenger pigeon, a small, gray bird with a pinkish red breast once extremely common in North America. The last mammoths died about 4000 years ago, and the passenger pigeon vanished around 1900. Research on reviving both species is well underway, and scientists close to the field think de-extinction for these animals is now a matter of “when,” not “if.” With that prospect in mind, here’s what we know so far about de-extinction: Why bring back extinct animals? As cool as it might be to visit a zoo filled with woolly mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, and giant tortoises, the best reasons for bringing back extinct animals have more to do with ecology than tourism.